Dr. Curtis "C.J." Gilliam [1922-1995] was a longtime Civil Rights activist and the first black optometrist in Baton Rouge. A former president of the Baton Rouge chapter of the NAACP, he was the first black Louisianan to enlist in the U.S. Marine...

This file is a composite of two clips. Pearl Lee George discusses her election to the City Council in 1976. The second part of the clip reflects her work to clean up the Eden Park area of Baton Rouge. She was born Pearl Brown on October 24,...

Born as Pearl Brown in Baton Rouge on October 24, 1934, her father left the family when she was 9 years old and she and her three siblings were raised by their mother Florence. Instilled with self sufficiency and personal pride, George went on to...

Born as Pearl Brown in Baton Rouge on October 24, 1934, her father left the family when she was 9 years old and she and her three siblings were raised by their mother Florence. Instilled with self sufficiency and personal pride, George went on to...

The Tug Boat Istrouma and her crew. Bought by the company in 1915 and used as a fire tug, it was retired from Esso Service in 1949. During its career, the boat and her crew helped to fight such memorable fires as the Great Kress Fire and the...